Fire-shield.



FIRE SHIELD.

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(Nd model.) Y

2' Sheets-Sheet 2.

NiTn-D STATES LLOYD C. GLISSON, OF STATESBORO, GEORGIA.

FIRE-SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,794, dated December 2, 1902.

Application filed February 27, 1902. Serial No. 95.911. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.- j

Beit known that I, LLOYD C. GLIssoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Statesboro, in the county of Bulloch and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Fire- Shield, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to fire-shields designed `to be placed between a burning building or fire and another building to protect the latter and prevent its becoming ignited by fiying brands and sparks or injured by the scorching heat.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple collapsible shield which may be readily transported and quickly extended or set yup in operative position between the conlagration and property to be protected, said shield being constructed so as to be comparatively light in weight, though rigid and capable of withstanding intense heat.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for securing together a n umber of shields to form a continuous unbroken wall.

Other features of the invention reside in certain structural details,which,together with their advantages, will appear when the invention is understood.

The preferred embodiment ofthe invention is clearly shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the followingspeciication; but it will be understood that such changes may be made from the construction shown and described as the scope of the appended claims will permit.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view illustrating the general arrangement and diierent manners of using the shield. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the shield. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the shield when collapsed. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the upper corner of one of the sections. Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view through the adjacent ends of two of thesections. Fig..7 is a side elevation showing portions of two shields secured together by the improved mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken on the line X X of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the fastening-hooks, and Fig.

l0 is a detail view of the free end of one of the supporting-standards which may be employed.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The shield consists, broadly, of nested slidably-associated sections 10, which are in the form of boxes, having their upper ends open, one section sliding within the other. These sections are` preferably made of sheet metal, having side walls 11, provided with terminal outstanding lips 12, about which are bent the edges of the end walls 13, whereby outstanding flanges 14 are formed at each corner of each section. These end walls have intermediate outstanding portions 15. As a result it will" be seen, especially by reference to Fig. 4, that the side walls of each innersection are spaced from the adjacent walls of the next outer section. To these side walls are secured vertically-disposed bracing-strips 16, that are thus located in the spaces between the walls, said strips having outstanding beads 17, yforming therebetween the grooves 1S. The outermost section is in like manner provided on the outer faces of its side walls with similar bracing-strips. Connecting the end walls of each section at its lower edge is a longitudinally-disposed brace 19, which is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The mean-s for operating these several sections is as follows: Double pulleys 20 are journaled in the upper ends of the grooves 18 of the bracingstrips of each section, with the exception of the top one, and a single pulley 21 is in like manner journaled in the lower ends of the grooves, said latter pulley beingdisposed at right angles to the upper ones. Operatingcables 22 are secured to the lower ends of the sections, with the exception of the bottom one, these cables passing over the pulleys 2O and 21, as clearly shown in Fig.2, the free ends being conveniently arranged so that they may be readily grasped.

In order to lock the sections in their raised oroperative positions, spring-latches 23 are secured within the several upper sections at their lower ends and provided with outstanding fingers 24, that are arranged to engage in sockets or openings 25, made in the upper ends of the adjacent sections. These latches may be operated through the medium of ICO wires 26, secured thereto and extending through openings 27, made in the lower part of the lower section, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of the lower section is provided with dependingr spurs 28, and supportingarms 29 may be employed, if desired, for holding the shield in upright position or bracing it against the walls of a building. These arms are formed of slidably-associated sections 30,that can be held against independent movement by set-screws 31, the upper sections having hooks 3 2, that detachably engage the shield.

For the purpose of securing a number of shields together a standard 33 is provided, which is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, said standard consisting of sheet-metal plates secured together and bent to form oppositelyextending side walls 34, providing therebetween longitudinal channels 35, in which the outstanding portions 15 of the end walls 13 fit. Certain of the side Walls 34 are provided with terminal lon gitudinally-disposed sockets 36, that receive the flanges 14 of the shields, and on the walls are pivotally mounted fastening-hooks 37, which are arranged to detachably engage over the outstanding lianges 14 on the opposite sides of the shield, and thus securely fasten said shields to the standards. A plurality of these hooks are shown, allbeing4 operated by a rod 38, that is slidably mounted upon one side of the standard and has stems 39, that engage in openings of the hooks. There is also preferably employed a bracing-arm 41, that is pivoted to one side of the standard, said arm being extensible and consisting of slidably-associated sections that may be held against independent movement by means of a set-screw 42.

' the shield may be tied to a house in case of heavy wind, when the arms might not be powerful enough to maintain it in position.

The shields may be operated in various ways. Should a fire break out in a house, they may be transported in collapsed form to the coniagration and after being placed on end are raised to their full height or suiiiciently to extend above the buildings to be protected. They may then be separately supported in the middle of the street, as shown in Fig. 1, or placed directly against the building and braced in this position. In case of brick or stone buildings they may be made small enough to be passed through and supported over the windows only to protect the woodwork about the same. In case it becomes desirable to form a continuous unbroken wall with the shields a number of them are placed side by side, with the standards between them, so that they will be securely held together. They may then be placed in proper'position against the structure and braced from the outside by means of the arms 29,or the arms 41 may be brought into use. In this case said arms are raised against the side of the building and secured by passing suitable fastening devices in the shape of nails, screws, or the like through the ears 44.

The structure may be made of any metal desired, though vsheet-iron has been found preferable because of its inexpeusiveness.

-It will be observed that practically a double wall is formed, having an intermediate airspace, so that there is very little danger of the shield becoming heated through.v Furthermore, the air-space is freely open, and fresh air may en ter at the bottom as the heated air discharges from the top, thus serving tov keep the device cool.` The structure is so light that it may be readily carried about from place to place and at the same time is so braced that it is perfectly rigid and will not accidentally collapse. The standards aiford simple and convenient means for securing several of the shields together to form a continuous and unbroken wall.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new,and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A lire-shield comprising nested slidablyassociated sections in the form of boxes that are movable into and out of each other.

2. A fire-shield comprising nested slidablyassociated sections in the form of boxes that are movable into and out of each other, and means for moving the sections with relation to each other.

3. A fire-shield comprising nested slidablyassociated sections in the form of boxes which are movable into and out of each other, and means for moving each section independently of the other.

4. A fire-shield comprising nested slidablyassociated sections in the form of boxes which are movable into and out of each other, and means for locking the sections when in their outermost positions.

5. A fire-shield comprising nested slidablyassociated sections in the form of boxes which are movable into and out of each other, and separate means for locking each section against movement.

6. In a fire-shield, the combination with a lower section in the form of a hollow boxing, of an upper section slidably mounted within the lower section and movable out of and into the same, and a cable secured to the lower IOC IZO

portion of the upper section and passing over the upper end of the lower section.

7. In a fire-shield, the combination with a ing-section, and an operating-cable passing over the pulley and secured to the lower portion of the slidably-mounted section.

8. In a fire-shield, the combination with a lower section in the form of a box having an open upper end, of an upper section slidably mounted within the lower section and having its side faces spaced from the adjacent inner faces of the lower section, and a brace secured tothe side faces of one of the sections and extending across and bearing against the adjacent face of the other section.

9. In a fire-shield, the combination with a lower section, in the form of a box having an open upper end, of an upper section slidably mounted within the lower section and having its side faces spaced from the adjacentinner faces of the lower section, spaced bracingbeads secured to the upper section and bearing against the adjacent face of the lower section, and an operating-cable for the upper section located in the groove formed between the spaced beads.

\ 10. In a tire-shield, the combination with a lower section in the form of a boxing having an open upper end, of an upper section slidably mounted within the lower section, and a holding-latch secured to one of the sections and detachably engaging the other section to hold said sections against relative movement.

l1. In a fire-shield, the combination with a lower section in the form of a boxing having an open upper end, of an upper section slidably mounted within the lower section, a

. spring-holding latch secured to one of the sections and detachably engaging the other to hold said sections against relative movement,

and an actuating device secured to the latch for operating the same.

12. The combination with a plurality of separate and independently extensible lireshields adapted to be placed side by side, of means detachably interlocking with the adjacent sidesof the shields to secure them together after they have been extended..

13. The combination with a pluralityl of fireshields adapted to be placed side by side and having outstanding iianges at their adjacent side edges, of a standard that detachably iuterlocks with the flanges of the shields.

14. The combination with a plurality of fireshields adapted to be placed side by side and having outstanding flanges at their adjacent side edges, of a standard arranged to be placed between the shields and having channels in its opposite faces in which theedges of the shields engage, and holding-hooks movably mounted upon the standard and engaging the flanges of the shields.

l5. The combination with a plurality of reshields adapted to be placed side by side and having outstanding tianges at their adjacent side edges, of a standard arranged-to be placed between the shields and having channels in its opposite faces in which the edges of the shields engage,holdinghooks movablymount- 

